Kelly and I are getting the hang of this whole teaching in prison
thing. While Kelly had experience working
with inmates previously, my closest experience was teaching art classes to a
gaggle of unruly grade school students armed with mass amounts of glitter and
paint. Due to my lack of experience, I came to this position of facilitating a
group of 17-25 year-old incarcerated fathers with a great deal of hesitation
and trepidation. At week two, I can honestly say I am glad to have art camp
behind me. Facilitating TEP at MSI isn’t
much different than any other job I’ve had.
The only difference is getting patted down upon entering and having a
few doors that have to be unlocked along the way by guards to your office.
Our second week has gotten off to a smooth start. We arrived 30 minutes early today with posters rolled up, flip chart, and tote bag in hand filled with the necessities of pens, extra folders, class hand-outs, paper, dry erase markers, and tape. The funny thing about working in a prison is that there is a great deal of inconsistency in what I imagined as such a rigid and strict environment. Upon going in to TEP today we were told that we needed a clear bag for all of our belongings so that guards could see what was inside. Obviously we are happy to comply, but it is frustrating getting all of the information in little bits and pieces versus as a coherent message.
Kelly and I were thrilled to be able to walk to our classroom, hang our print-outs and write today’s discussion questions on the white board all before the class arrived. We were set to go at 9:15 on the dot. Kelly and I were ready for attentive bright eyed students and maybe even an apple on our desk to start the session. (Note: Kelly likes Honey crisp and I, Fuji) We were brought back down to reality when the classroom was empty until 9:35 when the first 3 individuals trickled in yellow jump suit and all. Right, we are in a prison. By 9:45 we were up to 7. I didn’t think absent faces would bother me, but both Kelly and I felt a nagging feeling when two participants did not show up when they had no excuse. Kelly and I are hoping to solve this problem by having our own list of participants so that upon our arrival we can give it to a guard and tell them to go to town. Previously, it was expected that the guards would have our participants in the classroom on their own, but it is clear that this is also our responsibility.
Week 2 continues to be a learning process. Kelly and I are continually updating our curriculum to meet the needs of the inmates and we welcome their feedback. Last week we provided them with a resource packet and we were slightly taken aback today to hear how difficult it is for them to secure resources pamphlets within the facility. This was especially poignant after reading this article: Protesters, former inmates want the St. Louis workhouse to close in the Saint Louis Post Dispatch about our current practicum placement.
To end on a positive note: While doing a lesson about problem solving we ad-libbed and did a group example on the board because we thought some clarification was needed. It was a success! While last week we noted that our personal examples help, adding a group example after our example seems to be the most effective. This is great to know so that when we meet over the weekend to practice the upcoming session we can find space to add such points in the next session.
Chapel countdown = 6 more sessions
E & K
Our second week has gotten off to a smooth start. We arrived 30 minutes early today with posters rolled up, flip chart, and tote bag in hand filled with the necessities of pens, extra folders, class hand-outs, paper, dry erase markers, and tape. The funny thing about working in a prison is that there is a great deal of inconsistency in what I imagined as such a rigid and strict environment. Upon going in to TEP today we were told that we needed a clear bag for all of our belongings so that guards could see what was inside. Obviously we are happy to comply, but it is frustrating getting all of the information in little bits and pieces versus as a coherent message.
Kelly and I were thrilled to be able to walk to our classroom, hang our print-outs and write today’s discussion questions on the white board all before the class arrived. We were set to go at 9:15 on the dot. Kelly and I were ready for attentive bright eyed students and maybe even an apple on our desk to start the session. (Note: Kelly likes Honey crisp and I, Fuji) We were brought back down to reality when the classroom was empty until 9:35 when the first 3 individuals trickled in yellow jump suit and all. Right, we are in a prison. By 9:45 we were up to 7. I didn’t think absent faces would bother me, but both Kelly and I felt a nagging feeling when two participants did not show up when they had no excuse. Kelly and I are hoping to solve this problem by having our own list of participants so that upon our arrival we can give it to a guard and tell them to go to town. Previously, it was expected that the guards would have our participants in the classroom on their own, but it is clear that this is also our responsibility.
Week 2 continues to be a learning process. Kelly and I are continually updating our curriculum to meet the needs of the inmates and we welcome their feedback. Last week we provided them with a resource packet and we were slightly taken aback today to hear how difficult it is for them to secure resources pamphlets within the facility. This was especially poignant after reading this article: Protesters, former inmates want the St. Louis workhouse to close in the Saint Louis Post Dispatch about our current practicum placement.
To end on a positive note: While doing a lesson about problem solving we ad-libbed and did a group example on the board because we thought some clarification was needed. It was a success! While last week we noted that our personal examples help, adding a group example after our example seems to be the most effective. This is great to know so that when we meet over the weekend to practice the upcoming session we can find space to add such points in the next session.
Chapel countdown = 6 more sessions
E & K
Proud of you! This sounds like an awesome project and I'm glad you are sharing it so others can see the realities of this country. Go you!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lizzie! I am really excited and should be sticking with this for the next year so we will see how it goes :).
ReplyDelete